QA Quality Assurance
Standardizing PV System Documentation
and Verification
I nternational concern regarding
the safety and quality of PV system
installations is growing. Incorrectly
installed or commissioned systems can
create a fire hazard or even increase the
risk of electrocution.
Consider the well-documented
“thermal event” that occurred in
Bakersfield, California, on April 5, 2009
(see “The Bakersfield Fire,” February/
March 2011, SolarPro magazine). It
is generally accepted that an unde-
tected fault-to-ground was present in
a grounded current-carrying source-
circuit conductor at this site, and that
this first fault set the stage for the
eventual fire. A subsequent analysis of
utility-owned and -operated rooftop
PV systems in North Carolina revealed
the presence of undetected ground
faults in approximately 10% of the
systems surveyed.
Proper commissioning procedures
are among the best defences against
fire or electrocution hazards. While
guidelines and best practices for PV
system commissioning in North Amer-
ica are patchwork at best, in 2009 the
International Electrochemical Com-
mission (IEC) published an interna-
tional standard, IEC 62446, that defines
minimum requirements for document-
ing, commissioning and inspecting
grid-connected PV systems.
In this article I provide an overview
of IEC 62446, which can be purchased
in its entirety from the IEC website
(iec.ch) for approximately $150. In addi-
tion to the general content outlined
here, the standard includes informative
appendices with model certificates,
reports and procedures.
While compliance with IEC 62446
is not mandatory in North America at
this time, the standard clearly provides
a set of internationally recognized best
14 S O L A R PR O | February/March 2012
practices for system integrators and
O&M providers. Since these entities
are already performing many of the
tasks described in the standard, the
effort and cost to harmonize internal
practices with those outlined will be
relatively small. Anyone engaged in the
preparation of documents and stan-
dards for projects going out to bid will
likely find the requirements outlined in
IEC 62446 useful and relevant to their
work as well.
IEC 62446
This international standard was
published in March 2009. It is formally
entitled Grid-Connected Photovoltaic
Systems—Minimum Requirements for
System Documentation, Commissioning
Tests and Inspection. The emphasis on
documentation is interesting to note.
In effect, system documentation is the
evidence used to demonstrate that
appropriate precautions and tests have
been undertaken prior to handing over
a PV system to the property owner.
The standard is organized into two
parts: system documentation require-
ments and system verification
requirements, which include inspection
and testing.
System Documentation
System documentation require-
ments are laid out in Clause 4, which
describes the minimum documenta-
tion that should be provided for the
benefit of the customer, inspector or
maintenance technician following
the installation of a grid-connected
PV system. These requirements are
organized into six categories: system
data, wiring diagram, datasheets,
mechanical design information, O&M
information, and test results and com-
missioning data.
System data. Minimum system data
requirements outlined in IEC 62446
include basic nameplate information
and details that you would expect to
find on the cover page of a PV plan set
or a system commissioning package.
Nameplate data requirements include
rated system power and the manufac-
turers, models and quantities of PV
modules and inverters. Cover page data
requirements include contact informa-
tion for the customer, system designer
and system installer, plus relevant
project dates.
Wiring diagram. According to IEC
62446, system documentation for a grid-
connected PV system shall include at
minimum a single-line wiring diagram.
A list of subsections outlines the specific
information that needs to be included in
the notes or tables associated with the
wiring diagram.
Annotations to the single-line dia-
gram must include general information
about the quantity and type of modules,
as well as specific details about the
source-circuit and subarray makeup.
IEC 62446 also requires information
about the location and type of balance of
system components. Details need to be
provided regarding conductor sizes and
overcurrent protection device ratings.
In addition to equipment ground-
ing details, in particular module frame
grounding, any connection to an exist-
ing lightning protection system needs to
be identified, as do the locations, types
and ratings of ac or dc surge protection
devices. IEC 62446 also details minimum
information requirements regarding the
existing ac electrical system.
Datasheets. Per IEC 62446, mod-
ule and inverter datasheets must be
provided in the system documentation
at a minimum requirement. An informa-
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 QA
“The provision of datasheets for other
significant system components should
also be considered.”
Mechanical design. A datasheet for
the array mounting system needs to
be provided, at a minimum. Where
applicable, structural engineering docu-
ments, soil testing results and so forth
can also be provided.
O&M information. Meeting the
requirements found in subsection 4.6
of IEC 62446 (see sidebar) is inherently
more subjective than other system
documentation requirements. Proper
documentation of system O&M infor-
mation depends upon the audience and
may involve a significant investment
in time and resources on the project
back end. While basic O&M templates
can be developed for residential and
commercial clients, templates for
commercial projects invariably require
more customization. This is especially
true when a facility’s maintenance
Solar Power Management
16 S O L A R PR O | February/March 2012
4.6 O&M Information
Operation and maintenance information shall be provided and shall include, at a
C o py r ig h t © 20 0 9 I E C , Ge n e v a , S w it z e rl a nd
minimum, the following items:
a) Procedures for verifying correct system operation.
b) A checklist of what to do in case of a system failure.
c) Emergency shutdown and isolation procedures.
d) Maintenance and cleaning recommendations (if any).
e) Considerations for any future building works related to the PV array
(for example, roof works).
f) Warranty documentation for PV modules and inverters—to include starting
date of warranty and period of warranty.
g) Documentation on any applicable workmanship or weather-tightness
warranties.
personnel are expected to take on the results of the verification tests out-
routine maintenance activities for the lined in Clause 5 of the standard.
PV system.
Test results and commissioning data. System Verification
IEC 62446 requires that copies of test The requirements laid out in Clause
results and commissioning data be 5 apply to both initial and periodic
included in the documentation pack- verification of a grid-connected PV
age. At a minimum, this must include system. Initial verification takes place
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 upon completion of a
new installation, as well
as whenever “additions
or alterations to exiting
installations” are made.
Periodic verification is
intended to ensure that
“the installation and all
its constituent compo-
nents remain in a satis-
factory condition for use.”
It is worth noting
Co u r te s y Se a w a rd S o la r
knowledgeable regarding PV systems
and the electrical equipment used
in their construction, and trained to
avoid all associated hazards.
System verification is achieved
through inspection, followed by testing.
These steps must be documented in a
verification report.
Inspection. The requirements found
in this subsection are intended to be
completed “prior to energizing the sys-
tem.” Inspection activities are broken

that IEC 62446 requires into four subcategories: dc system,

that a “skilled person,
competent in verifica-
tion” perform initial or
periodic verification.
Section 690.4(E) of the
PV installation test IEC 62446 describes a variety National Electrical Code
of techniques for shorting a string during testing similarly requires that a
and taking measurements using clip-on ammeters. qualified person install
However, the use of dedicated PV test instruments, PV systems. By exten-
like this Seaward Solar PV100 tester, simplifies the sion, persons verifying
process, making it quicker and safer for technicians. PV systems should be
overvoltage and shock, ac system,
and labeling and identification. While
IEC 62446 includes a fair amount of
detail regarding inspection require-
ments, companies should defer to the
NEC and the local AHJ when setting
internal quality-assurance and quality-
control standards.
Testing. Testing of PV systems
should be conducted in accordance
with NFPA 70E, Electrical Safety in the

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 QA
Workplace, published by the National
Fire Protection Association. To miti-
gate electrical hazards, workers must
employ personal protective equipment
commensurate with the electrical
energy present, follow proper proce-
dures and use appropriate tools.
IEC 62446 requires that the ac cir-
cuits be tested first, then the following
six dc circuit tests be performed, prefer-
ably in this order:
1. Test continuity of equipment-
grounding conductors and
system-grounding conductors
(if applicable).
2. Test polarity of all dc cables and
check for correct cable identifica-
tion and connection.
3. Test open-circuit voltage [Voc]
for each PV source circuit.
4. Test short-circuit current [Isc]
for each PV source circuit.
5. Test functionality of major
system components (switchgear,
controls, inverters), including
inverter anti-islanding.
6. Test the insulation resistance of
the dc circuit conductors.
The methods for performing these
tests are generally familiar to all electri-
cians. However, difficulties may arise
if the technician is unaware of the
extent to which PV circuits need to be
segmented and isolated for these tests
to be performed properly. Therefore, it
is important that anyone performing
these tests be specifically qualified with
regard to PV systems.
Combinations of standard electrical
test equipment can be used to complete
the required tests, such as a megohm
meter paired with either a digital mul-
timeter or a clamp meter. Increasingly,
specialized test equipment is available
for PV applications. For example, the
PV100 solar installation test kit from
Seaward Solar includes everything
needed to test to IEC 62446: a continuity
and insulation resistance tester, a digital
multimeter and a dc current clamp.
18 S O L A R PR O | February/March 2012
While IEC 62446 does not specify
the order of the tests, there is logic
behind the order that it recommends.
For example, if equipment is properly
bonded to earth, then it is inherently
safer to work around in the event of
a fault; and if polarity tests are not
completed before functional tests are
performed, then equipment may be
damaged at start-up due to reverse
polarity or overvoltage.
Note that in the event that a test
indicates a fault, the standard requires
that all previous tests be repeated
after the fault is rectified. This is
because the fault may have influenced
earlier test results.
The subsections related to the
specific dc circuit tests provide instruc-
tions on how to perform the verifica-
tion tests, as well as how to interpret
the results. For example, IEC 62446
describes two short-circuit test pro-
cedures, the results of which can be
measured using either an in-line or a
clamp-on ammeter. Similarly, two test
methods are provided for the PV array
insulation test, as well as a recom-
mended procedure and a table for
interpreting the results (see Table 1).
The two PV source-circuit tests
are not intended to measure array
performance, which means that I-V
curve traces are not required. Instead,
Minimum Values of Insulation Resistance
Test method (Voc x 1.25)
Test method 1: Separate tests to array positive and
array negative
Test method 2: Array positive and negative shorted
together
Table 1 Insulation resistance test results are satisfactory, according to the test
methods and procedure outlined in IEC 62446, if they are not less than the values
shown here.
the intent is to simply verify that the
installation is correct by comparing
expected Voc and Isc results to mea-
sured values. Ideally, the results of
all of the source-circuit measure-
ments should be within 5% of one
another. To make this comparison
with confidence, you must have
stable irradiance conditions. For best
results, the measurements should be
normalized using an irradiance meter
reading. (See “PV System Commis-
sioning,” October/November 2009,
SolarPro magazine.)
Verification reports. Once the PV
system is inspected and tested, IEC
62446 requires that a verification
report be prepared. The report must
summarize the system information
and also provide relevant names and
addresses. Each circuit that has been
inspected and tested must be listed.
A record of each inspection must be
provided, as well as a record of the
individual test results for each cir-
cuit. The recommended interval until
the next periodic verification must
be identified. Lastly, signatures are
required for the person(s) responsible
for the current round of inspection,
testing and reporting.
—Rod Taylor / Seaward Solar / Tampa, FL /
seawardsolar.com
Courtesy International Electrochemical Commission
Minimum
System Test insulation
voltage voltage resistance
(V) (MΩ)
<120 250 0.5
120–500 500 1
>500 1,000 1
<120 250 0.5
120–500 500 1
>500 1,000 1